I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like the letters after the 'WM & S' could be 'EP' for electroplated, meaning the candlesticks are not sterling. Some plated wares command a high price however, but it may take a little more research to determine the potential resale value of those candle holders. I would imagine they could bring a decent sum considering the unique design.
There's a mark registered for William Manton & Son, out of Birmingham, England and for William Mammat & Son (or Mammatt, I'm seeing it both ways) out of Sheffield, England.
I'm not seeing this piece anywhere--I'm seeing very few pieces for either of them.
I have bought lots and lots of stuff on just instinct and lost, but I had very little invested.....I did learn, which was worth a whole lot.....I also have spent $10 on flatware that was close to $700 in silver.....So why not take a chance, might not win every time but who does.....
The EP is definitely electro plated. They are nice pieces but not sterling. The number is a pattern reference. If they were sterling, they would have other hallmarks.
Just doing a bit of tidying up on some older threads, mainly for the benefit of anyone searching the site for information.
Yes, thatās a silver plate mark, not a hallmark. There are several possibilities for a āW.Mā mark, but that one with the gothic āEā and āPā (for Electro-Plate) is generally attributed to William Marples & Sons of Sheffield.
Founded in 1828 by William Marples, it became āWilliam Marples & Sonsā in 1860 when Edwin Henry Marples and William Kent Marples joined their fatherās business and continued under that name (later becoming āLtdā) until purchased by W. Ridgeway and Sons and C. and J. Hampton in 1962.